As we begin the new year, the first big event for me is the Wichita Bridal and Event Expo! Every January, it allows engaged couples to come to one place and visit with some of the areas most talented wedding and event professionals, gaining valuable insights as they begin planning their wedding. For those of you who may be attending the bridal expo in January, here are a few helpful tips for you!

Before the Show:Visit the show website by clicking here. You'll be able to preregister for the expo, saving you time at the door. You'll also be able to see which event professionals will be attending the show, which will help you make your plan (see # 2 below). Also, don't forget to set up an email address for your wedding BEFORE you register or attend the show. You will get an incredible amount of "wedding email" in the months to come, and this will allow you to keep that separate from your personal inbox!

1.) Entering the ShowWhen you enter the show, you'll be handed a bag at the registration table. Inside of that bag will be the main book for the bridal show that will have some ads, as well as one of the most important pieces in the book. In the middle, you'll find a few pages that go through all of the event professionals in alphabetical order. It will list their booth number, as well as a show floor map that will help guide you through the expo. You'll also see 3 letters: "Y N M" This very well may be what you may find to be the most useful piece of the book. Those letters stand for "Yes, No, and Maybe". As you go through and talk with different event professionals, make a note in that section. If you pick up any literature from that booth, simply write their booth number on their literature, and after the show, you'll be able to pair up the literature with your notes, and it will help you make some sense of everything that you'll come home with in your bag.

2.) Have a plan for what you are wanting to accomplishEvery couple who attends the show will most likely be in different stages of their planning process. Regardless of how how long you've been engaged, and how far along you are in your planning process, you'll want to make a plan before you enter the show. Your plan should consist of making a list of what you still need to accomplish for your wedding, going through the event professionals who will be at the expo, either on the expo website above, or in the bridal expo book that you'll pick up when you arrive. And mapping out where their booths are so that you'll be able to navigate the show floor to get to those that you want to speak with. Depending on where you are in your process, you may need to visit with several different event professionals, or you may just need to see a few. Whatever the case may be, don't just wing it when you walk in the door, or you will definitely run the risk of getting overwhelmed!

3.) Take Notes!!This may be the most important thing that I can share with you. Most couples that I talk with there are completely overwhelmed with the process, as there is SO MUCH to see! There are over 250 booths in the January show, as well as showcases, and it can easily overwhelm most people. Bring a notebook with you, and as you work through your plan (remember the plan from #2 above?) you'll be able to take notes as you talk with some of the event professionals, which will be a BIG help to you.

4.) Enjoy Yourself!!I can't stress this enough! You're planning one of the major milestone events in your life, and it should be a fun process. If you do a little legwork in advance, it will definitely help you to have a more productive experience at the expo, as well as to enjoy it more. By following your plan, you'll be able to spend more time talking with those who are providing a service that you are still needing for your wedding, without feeling the need to stop by each and every booth.

If you have a chance to read this, feel free to stop by and say hello! We'll be in a booth near the stage, next to our sister company, Majestic Lighting Design, and would love to have a chance to meet you!